Runners tend to have "bucket list races" or at least ones that they have tried to run for several years, but for some reason it never happens. Well, one of those for me is the Mayor's 5K on the 5th Runway. Yep, a 5K held on the runway of the world's busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Well, FINALLY, I was home and able to get this race onto my calendar. I have had race envy of all of my friends that have ran it the past few years and now it was my turn.
Since the race is on the fifth runway of Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, parking was off-site and runners were bused in to the airport runway. Bib pickup was held right where the buses dropped you off. After getting your bib, you went through TSA security to get into the runner only area (pre-race, start line, etc). Going through TSA security to the race area meant that you were limited on what could and could not be brought in (particularly water, empty bottles, packs, etc). Granted, it was a 5K and had water stations on the course, but I definitely missed having pre-race water (especially because it was rather humid).
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About 20 minutes or so before the start of the race, they started having runners head from the hanger to the start line. It was a sold out crowd (as with each year), so they have to start moving runners over early in order to do so in an orderly fashion. As we waited, we were introduced to Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. She welcomed runners to the race and spoke about the beneficiary, United Way.
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With a sold out crowd with a few thousand runners, there were three waves in starting runners. The first wave was the "Mayor's Heat" which was made of the mayor and runners that donated extra to their race registration for a variety of race day perks including first wave start. The other two waves were open waves.
Since the course was the runway, things spread out really quickly. Even though runners of all paces started at the same time, the course was so spacious that I didn't notice anyone having any issues past the first 20 feet of the course.
I have to say that running on the runway was a lot different than running on the pothole covered asphalt of the streets of Atlanta, but the two most noticeable differences were the lack of hills (granted the runway has a slight incline to it) and the "little" surprise that Hartsfiled-Jackson and Delta had for us at the turn around.
I have to say that running on the runway was a lot different than running on the pothole covered asphalt of the streets of Atlanta, but the two most noticeable differences were the lack of hills (granted the runway has a slight incline to it) and the "little" surprise that Hartsfiled-Jackson and Delta had for us at the turn around.
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There are some races that I run for time and there are some that I run for pure fun. Today was about fun. I wanted to enjoy the experience of running on the world's busiest airport's runway and watch as planes took off and landed on the other runways with the sunrise in the background. Oh yea, and of course I had to take advantage of photo ops along the way as well.
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The course was definitely a change of scenery and terrain to knock out 3.1 miles. There were some speedy runners out there racing for podium spots, but there were definitely a lot of families and runners looking to get out, get active, and experience a unique 5K.
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If you are a walker or back of the pack runner, be sure to be aware of the course time limit. Due to having to comply with the strict time limit to have the runway closed, they do strictly enforce a time limit on the course. If you are not to the "check point" around mile 2-ish in the time frame noted, you get detoured towards the finish line. Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact cutoff, but I want to say it was an hour for the 5K which would be about 40 minutes to get to mile 2 which is still very generous.
I am so glad that I was FINALLY able to run The Mayor's 5K on the 5th Runway! It was a fun morning and such a memorable race!
I am so glad that I was FINALLY able to run The Mayor's 5K on the 5th Runway! It was a fun morning and such a memorable race!
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